Pub aims for ‘trebles all round’ with award

A former winner of the Campaign for Real Ale title two years running, The Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield was rescued from dereliction in 2002 by landlord Trevor Wraith.

A multiple-award winner, including for its beer garden, it serves an “impressive” range of beers from 12 hand pumps. It now goes head to head with 15 others for the national title after being named one of the UK’s “top 16” pubs by CAMRA.

Mr Wraith said it was “traditional pub with traditional values” – with “top notch” beer, adding: “It’s not over complicated – when I go on my travels you can get terrible service – people who can’t be bothered to serve you – and there are some dodgy pints out there.

“I have always strived to offer something better than most other places. It is a great achievement for us; Sheffield has a lot of good pubs but we are the only ones that have ever won this award.”

When Mr Wraith took on the pub it had been closed down and sold off by the pub company as a “no hoper”, and added: “It’s a shame that it is happening with a lot of pubs up and down the country.

“If you get the right person with the right idea, possibly as a free house, it shows what can be done.”

Meanwhile, Hull’s Hop & Vine was announced the best pub for real cider and perry in Yorkshire – for the fourth time in five years, and goes on to compete for the national cider title. Licensee Stewart Campbell said: “We are proud to celebrate a great British drink by only selling cider and perry made wholly from apples and pears and not stocking fizzy concentrate ‘cider’.”